Mother–child relations in adulthood within and across national borders: non-Western immigrants in the Netherlands

Sources of Intergenerational Conflict in Chinese Immigrant Families in the United States

Studies of family relations have not kept pace with the acceleration of international migration. To address this gap, this study relied on a survey of 545 Chinese immigrants in Chicago who reported information of 869 older parents to examine the sources of intergenerational conflict in five domains: norms/values, relationship itself, money, health, and parenting. The results of logistic regression showed that maintaining one's traditional culture, in the form of endorsing a sense of filial obligation, was a significant protective factor against all types of conflict. Immigrants with a higher level of acculturation were more likely to report conflict regarding norms/values and relationship itself, but not more so regarding practical issues such as health, money, and parenting. Helping parents with ADLs, not IADLs, was associated with more conflict regarding monetary and health issues. Immigrants' greater sense of mastery was associated with a lower chance of reporting norm/value-related intergenerational conflict.

Family type and cognitive function in older Chinese Americans: acculturation as a moderator

OBJECTIVES

Acculturation to the mainstream culture and the settlement contexts could shape cognitive function of older immigrants. Guided by ecological theory, this study examines the interaction effect between individual acculturation and ecology of family on cognitive function among older Chinese Americans.

METHODS

Data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (n = 3,019). Family types included tight-knit (high solidarity and low conflicts), unobligated-ambivalent (high solidarity and conflicts), commanding-conflicted (low solidarity and high conflicts), and detached (low solidarity and low conflicts). Acculturation was measured via language ability, media use, and ethnic social relations. Cognitive function was evaluated by global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, and mini-mental state examination. Multiple regression analyses and interaction terms were used.

RESULTS

Older adults in the commanding-conflicted type had the lowest cognitive function. After controlling confounding variables, higher levels of acculturation (b = 0.009, SE = 0.003, p < .01) were associated with higher levels of global cognition. Acculturation buffered the negative impact of having a commanding-conflicted relationship with children on global cognition (b = 0.070, SE = 0.016, p < .001). Language ability, media use, and ethnic social relations played a unique role in the relationships between family types and cognitive domains.

CONCLUSION

Acculturation to the dominant culture is identified as a cultural asset for cognitive function in older Chinese Americans. Social services could protect cognitive function of older immigrants in the commanding-conflicted type through enhancing cultural participation. Future research could test how affective and cognitive aspects of acculturation affect health.

Parent-Adult Child Relations of Chinese Older Immigrants in the United States: Is There an Optimal Type?

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to identify (a) different types of parent-child relations among Chinese older immigrants, (b) predictors of each relation type, and (c) the most "optimal" type that is associated with better psychological well-being of the older adults.

METHODS

Data were derived from 3,109 Chinese elderly adults in Chicago. Latent Class Analysis was used to identify structures of parent-child relations based on eight indicators of family solidarity. Logistic regressions were used to predict the relation types. Negative binomial and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between the relation types and depression and quality of life (QoL).

RESULTS

Four types of parent-child relations emerged: unobligated ambivalent (44.77%), tight-knit (40.11%), detached (10.28%), and commanding conflicted (4.84%). Older adults' age, gender, marital status, health status, and immigration/acculturation experience were related to their relation types. While tight-knit relation was associated with the fewest depressive symptoms, older adults with unobligated ambivalent relations were the least likely to report good QoL.

DISCUSSION

The study illustrates the diverse and complex ways in which Chinese older immigrants and their children are connected. The findings suggest that a departure from the traditional norm of filial piety may present a risk factor for this population's mental health.